Chapter by Sam
IJN Yamato,
June 3, 1942
The air was still in the briefing room of the Japanese flagship.
Seated around the large table, which displayed a map of key positions in the Pacific, were several members of the Imperial Naval Staff, many of them keeping their attention on the brown-furred officer at the head of the table, his eyes scrutinizing the map as he continued to mentally finalize his plans.
This was Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto.
"Midway will be taken swiftly," he finally said.
"Our intelligence reports that the Enterprise and Hornet, of their Task Force 16, are the only carriers at the American's disposal, with the loss of the Lexington, and the severe damage of the Yorktown at the Coral Sea, where we regrettably lost or light-carrier Shoho. With their carrier force cut obliterated, we will have the advantage. My main battleship force with trail behind Admiral Nagumo's carriers. We will lure the Americans into a false sense of security..."
"Then Admiral Nagumo will launch his raids."
"Once they have been weakened, I will order the remaining forces to destroy any American reinforcements that come to from Pearl Harbor."
Looking to the men around him, the Admiral could see their eyes filled with uncertainty.
"The Americans are demoralized," he reassured them.
"I have also received word, that their Admiral Halsey has been stricken with psoriasis. Admiral Spruance has been ordered as his replacement. With one of their greatest strategists incapacitated, the battle is as good as won. This battle, combined with our victories over recent months will send a clear message that we are the reigning military power."
.
But Yamamoto would find, that he was terribly mistaken.
Thanks to a well-trained team of code-breakers, the American forces were able to intercept the Admiral's orders, which would allow them to come up with a proper counter attack. Unfortunately, they did face some difficulties, for on that day, Yamamoto agreed to have the navy aid the Japanese Army on the Aleutian Islands of Kiska and Attu, which were part of the Alaskan Territory, making it the first time American soil had been occupied by a foreign nation since the War of 1812.
And, when it came to morale, Yamamoto once again would find himself wrong...
As the sleeping giant, in a stunning display of resilience, which resulted in rolling blackouts around Pearl Harbor, completed repairs on the Yorktown within seventy-two hours, sending her out to join the enterprise and hornet five days earlier, carrying on her decks a squadron that would help to rain fire down upon them...
The Angel Squadron.
U.S.S. Enterprise,
June 4, 1942
7:12 A.M.
The flight deck was a buzz with activity as pilots scrambled to their planes.
Word had reached the Enterprise some ten minutes earlier that the Japanese had launched a savage attack on the Midway Atoll, badly crippling the air based flight force. With the small airbase in desperate need of reinforcements, the flight forces of Enterprise, Hornet, and Yorktown would need to launch and fly two hours to meet the Japanese head on. Unfortunately, due to a shortage of navy squadrons, the Army Air Corps had to surrender some of their squadrons, including Devil and Angel...
As well as a few spare pilots just standing around.
"CAPTAIN DAVIS!"
Sam turned to see a young pilot run toward him, silver fur shining in the early morning sunlight as he held his aviator cap in his hand, yellow life-vest over his pilots jacket, just like him. The wolf approached Sam as the latter was getting into the cockpit of his Corsair, the nose art of which depicted a scantily-dressed, auburn-furred female army pilot, tiara in place of aviator cap, in a seductive pose, the words "The Yankee Princess" painted over top of the image.
"Yes Lieutenant," he called over the noise of the engines revving up, "what is it?!"
Coming up alongside of the fuselage, the pilot quickly snapped to attention, bringing his arm up in a proper military salute before speaking.
"Lieutenant Dax Stirling," Dax called smartly before dropping his salute.
"I've been assigned to your squadron. Colonel Ramirez told me to report to you before we launch!"
A look of recollection crossed Sam's face when her heard Dax's name, a smile soon spreading as he addressed the wolf before him.
"Stirling you said?!" he called, earning a nod from Dax.
"You flew with Doolittle, didn't ya?!"
A broad smile spread on Dax's muzzle, his mismatched eyes twinkling with pride.
"Yes Sir!" he answered, making Sam laugh, the Captain pointing back with a gloved thumb toward an idle Corsair.
"Well get your ass in that plain cowboy...
We're going to defend the Alamo!"
The last comment made Dax laugh as he started to make his way to his play. But before he did, he was stopped by one more question.
"Whatcha called anyway, kid?!"
"Big Daddy, Sir!" Dax called back before turning around and jogging toward his plane. Once there, he hopped in his cockpit, aviator cap on his head, and primed his engine. All around the flight deck, the deafening sound of engines echoed through the air as flight crews released the blocks from the squadrons' tires.
At the forefront of the formation, King sat in his cockpit, engine revved up and ready to go. Taking hold of the control, King spoke into his com.
"Rogue Leader to Control...we're ready to roll out!"
"Copy Rogue Leader," Control responded, "Angel and Devil Leaders are standing by for your word."
And after another moment of mental preparation...
The Word Was Given.
"LAUNCH!"
With a jerk, King's Corsair started down the runway, followed by Sam, then Hench, followed by Dax and the rest of the squadron. And from the Yorktown, the squadron could see the planes of Angel and Devil take off, their newly acquired corsairs and dive-bombers quickly joining up in formation with Rogue.
"Alright boys and girls," King called over the com...
"Let's get these bastards."
And when the squadrons found the Japanese naval fleet, their timing could not have been more perfect. Following the preliminary attack on the Midway Atoll, the Japanese air forces had returned to their carriers to rearm and refuel. Taking advantage of this, the U.S. squadrons commenced a bombing run on the visible carriers, which consisted the IJN carriers Akagi, Soryu, and Kaga, the three carriers being hit and set ablaze by a direct hit from bombs, courtesy of Sweets, Able and Dax.
Unfortunately, one remaining Japanese Carrier, the Hiryu, launched two more waves of attacks against the U.S. forces, both attacks hitting and severely damaging the Yorktown, which at this point had gained a prominent list. Realizing that Angel and Devil Squadron could not return to the stricken Yorktown with it in such critical condition, an order went out to the squadron leaders to return with Rogue Squadron to Enterprise, while at the same time a majority of the carriers crew was being evacuated
Unfortunately, Sweets believed she may not get the chance, as a Japanese Zero was hot on her tail, firing nonstop at her Corsair, scoring minor hits on the wings and fuselage.
"Anybody, SOMEBODY, get this damn Zero of my AARGH!"
Sweets let out a scream of pain, as at that moment, a bullet from the zero penetrated her fuselage, going right through her bicep, the force splattering some of her blood on her cockpit window.
"SWEETS!" Eve called out, "you alright Hun?!"
"Y-yeah, Mama Bear," Sweets weakly called, the impact and pain of the hit making her feel slightly disoriented, "g-got hit in the arm...I'm fine, I think it's just flesh wound."
And just as she said this, a new voice came over Sweets' com.
"Hang tight, Angel 6," a noticeably southern accent sounded, "I got this bastard in my sights!"
With that, Sweets was able to make out the sound of gunfire, followed by a splash and an explosion. Glancing out of her cockpit, she could see that the zero on her tail had been shot down. Looking up from the carnage beneath her, Sweets, through her cockpit, made eye contact with her savior, only to briefly become lost in the heterochromic eyes of the newest member of Rogue Squadron.
"Don't worry Little Lady," Dax called as he sent a playful salute to Sweets, who couldn't help but giggle at the nickname given to her, "Big Daddy'll take care of ya!"
Meanwhile, Cain wasn't having the best time either. In fact, he was worse off with TWO zeros on his tail.
"ANYBODY COVER ME!" he called, his voice laced with panic as he tried desperately to shake the two Zeros off of him.
" I GOT TWO ZEROS ON MY ASS!"
Then a voice came over the com that Cain thought he would not be so happy to hear.
"Just relax Devil Anse," the Midwestern accent sounded, "I'm right behind you!"
And within seconds, Cain let out a sign of relief as his two pursuers were shot down.
"Thanks Buckeye," he gasped out, "sorry I panicked."
"It's alright Cain," Sam responded with a laugh, "happens to everyone."
Then King's voice came over the com.
"Alright everyone, cut the chatter...one of the scouts from Yorktown says they found the Hiryu! If we can take them out, then the Japs have no place to launch their planes!"
"Lead the way King!" Eve answered, followed by a chorus of battle cries, which actually managed to bring a smile to King's face.
Before long, the squadrons found the Hiryu.
Unfortunately, the lone carrier offered much more stiff resistance than her fallen sisters, with heavy AA flak attempted to tear the diving planes to pieces. And despite their best efforts, the discombobulating effect of the flak caused most of the bombs to fall short of hitting Hiryu's deck, geysers of water rising from the sea as the ordnance exploding, soaking the gunners and flight-crews of the Japanese carrier.
But, one thing King noticed is that, while the rest of the combined squadrons started to break off the attack, the Yankee Princess kept on course.
"SAM!" hey called, "WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING?!"
But rather than answer, Sam just ignored king as he focused on the Hinomaru symbol on the Hiryu's deck. And try as they might, the gunners on the carrier couldn't not seem to hit this lone Corsair, it's pilot filled with great resolve as he pushed right past the flak, coming out of the black smoke just on top of the Hiryu's flight deck before pulling back on hard on the stick, hand on the bomb release as he uttered a statement of pride and defiance.
"This is for Hutch."
With that, the bomb was let lose, punching a hole right into the wooden deck, which seconds latter erupted in a spectacular display of fire and smoke as several tons of ammunition ignited. The very sight made the squadrons cheer in triumph as Sam rejoined the formation, which at this point was now making it's way back to join the task force.
Unfortunately, the Japanese pilots did not have reason to celebrate. One such pilot looked out of his cockpit at the burning frame of Hiryu, before looking at his fuel gauge, which showed that the fighter was running on fumes.
The damage to the Japanese fleet had been done...
And was...Irreparable.
But, int the end, they could find some comfort in knowing that they had also scored a hit on the U.S. Fleet. AT one point, the Japanese submarine I-168, having slipped through the net of destroyers, had launched a salvo of torpedoes, two hitting and sinking the crippled Yorktown. But luckily, casualties were minimal as a majority of the crew had already been evacuated.
That evening, in the mess hall of the Enterprise, the squadrons gathered to drink their success. Even Sweets, who had been tended to in the infirmary, was enjoying the celebration, while also striking up a conversation with Dax.
"Thanks for the save out there," she said shyly, earning a sly wink from the Texan.
"Don't mention it darlin'," he said with a chuckle, patting her uninjured shoulder as he did so. Unknown to them, Cain had overheard there conversation, guilt building in him as he made a decision to do something he should have done a long time ago. Walking through the crowd, Cain came up to Sam and Terra, who had just finished up a conversation with Kate and Lilly. When the two sisters walked away, Sam and Terra noticed Cain standing there, his eyes cast down in a shy manner, which was not made easier by their hard stares.
"Thanks," he finally said, making the two wolves eyes go wide, wondering if they had heard Cain correctly.
"For helping me out up there."
Sam, upon hearing this, softened his gaze, a small smile forming on his lips as he answered.
"We're on the same team hear Cain."
Cain actually brought himself to bring his gaze up to Sam, actually finding himself returning the smile. Unfortunately, the smile fell when he looked at Terra, who, while her features had softened, continued to glare at the man who insulted her late boyfriend.
With a sigh, Cain continued to speak, this time to Terra.
"I'm sorry for what I said about Hutch."
This truly caught the two other pilots by surprise.
"It was...wrong of me to say that about him, especially while you were still grieving. It was stupid, and I hope we can start to put it behind us."
What happened next, truly shocked both Sam and Cain. Terra, after taking a moment to determine if Cain was being sincere, which he was, stepped forward, a warm smile on her face as he leaned forward to place a tender kiss on Cain's cheek, making him blush so hard that it could start to be seen through his black fur. After pulling back, Terra walked away from the two males, but not before saying,
"Apology accepted."
"Damn," Cain muttered out, a stupid smile on his face as Sam stood beside him, a sly smirk forming on his muzzle.
"She's some woman ain't she?," Sam inquired playfully, only to receive a playful shove from Cain, before the latter wrapped his arm around the former's shoulder, pulling his new friend along with him to rejoin the celebration.
In the end, the Japanese forces lost their four carriers, nearly three-thousand men, one cruiser, and hundreds of aircraft.
The U.S losses were significantly less, with the loss of the Yorktown, three-hundred men, one destroyer, and almost one-hundred and fifty aircraft.
The Battle of Midway has often been described as the turning point in the Pacific...
Where the Allies now had the advantage.